Argentina face Paraguay in World Cup qualifier

Buenos Aires, Sep 7 (IANS) Argentina will be looking to strengthen their qualification chances for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil when they face Paraguay in South American qualifying football match at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Cordoba.

Friday’s encounter in Cordoba, 700 km from Buenos Aires, will be the first qualifying match played by the national team in the second-largest city of the country.

Argentina are currently in the third position of the South American qualifications with 10 points from three victories, one draw and one defeat, just two points behind leaders Chile and Uruguay.

Nick named La Albiceleste, Argentina, will include in the attack line Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Argentina are riding high on confidence after win over Brazil (4-3) and Germany (3-1) in their last two international friendlies.

For Paraguay, the match will be a fresh start under new coach Gerardo Pelusso of Uruguay. Paraguay’s 1-3 loss to Argentina in the home leg led to the dismissal of coach Francisco Arce.

It will be tough test for Pelusso on debut and the Uruguayan will be banking on his two attacking forwards Jonathan Fabbro and Nelson Haedo Valdez. Paraguay have four points from one win, one draw and three losses.

Both Argentina and Paraguay were quarterfinalists in the last edition of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.